‘Skimpflation’: frustration as US firms skimp on service as prices rise

As labor shortages and supply chain problems bite, consumers have a growing sense they're getting less for their money

Flight cancelled"; service temporarily suspended"; not currently available"; longer than normal wait times": these are the messages that confront US consumers daily as the economy struggles to find a post pandemic footing. Now the phenomenon has a name: skimpflation".

It's a simple in concept - struggling with shortages of workers and goods, companies are skimping on what they offer consumers while, in many cases, charging the same price or more for that service.